Locomotive truck



A. W. BRUCE LOCOMOTIVE TRUCK July 31, 19281 1,679,153

Filed Oct. 15. 1926 3 Shff-Sf-Sheet 1 July 31, 192s. 1,619,153

- A. w. BRUCE LOCOMOTIVE TRUCK Filed octQl, 192e sheetslsheet 2 A.- w. BRUCE LocoMoTIvE 'RUCk Filed oct. 1*'5, 1926-v` 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 -Fl G- lo 2f 34 34a, Z

Patented July 31, 1928.

ALFRED W. BRUCE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

i LoooMo'rIvn TRUCK.

Application filed October 15, 1926. Serial No. 141,811.

My invention more particularly relates to means for minimizing the vibration of loco-` motives, and Vabsorbing the load normally carried by centering devices of locomotive trucks, when the middle vertical plane of the truck coincides with the vertical longitudinal central plane of. the locomotive, as when on tangent track, and has foran object to provide an appliance, which will be economical in manufacture, efficient in operation, and of great durability, and which, further, will function to minimizeV the vibration of the locomotive, and to remove' the load from the rockers or rollers of the centering devices, when thex truck is in longitudinal central position with relation to t-he locomotive, whereby steadier riding of the locomotive is attained, and the centering devices are relieved of a large amount of wear to which they haveheretofore been subjected.

lThe improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

The centering devices employed in prior practice, for controlling lateral movement of the truck wheels on curved track, have usually embodied an upper and a lower bearing seat, and rockers or rollers7 interposed between said seats. I have observed that when the truck is in longitudinal central position, with relation to the locomotive, the load of the rear end of the locomotive'is borne upon the relatively small areas of contact between the rockers or rollers, and

the seats, and that the constant lateral vibra-a tion ofthe locomotive,` and the pounding, incident to piston thrust and irregularities in the track, produce rapid wear'of the seats and rockers or rollers, with the result that the efficiency of such parts is quicklyv destroyed, and frequent renewal of the parts is required. I have, further, observed that, due to t .e limited area of contact between the seats and rockers or rollers, the centering devices do not prevent, in a satisfactory f degree, lateral vibration of the locomotive.

My present invention provides an appliance which relieves the seats and rockers, or

rollers, of all load, when the locomotive isl displaced.; Fig.

tangent, of a portion only, of the load borne by them on curved track.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a partial side view, in" elevation, of the rear portion of a locomotive,r illustrating an application of myv invention; Fig. 2, a half top or plan View, the boiler and fire box being removed; Fig. 3, a longitudinalv cross se"tion, on an enlarged scale, through a rocker centering device embodying my invention, the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the longitudinal central plane ofthe locomotive coincides with that of the truck; Fig. 4l, a transverse section, on the line a a of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, the parts being shown, in the position they occupy when the truck is laterally i 6, a longitudinal section through a geared roller centering device, the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the longitudinal central plane of the locomotive coincides with that of the truck; F ig. 7 a transverse section, on

the line?) Z)l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a longitudinal section, on the line c lc of Fig. 9 illustrating a modified form of vibration labsorbing and load supporting appliance, combined with a rocker centering device; Fig. 9,v a transverse section on the line Z d of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10, a sectional View, similar to Fig. 8, the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the truck is laterally displaced.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein eXempliiied,`as applied-in locomotive having a four wheeled trailing truck, in which two aXles, 10, 10', on each of which a pair of wheels, 11, is secured, are fitted to rotate in journal boxes, which are mounted, with the capacity of relative movement, inthe side members, 13, of the truck frame, said members being formed integral with forwardly and inwardly extending radius bar arms, 14, and a rear transverse bar, 15. The truck frame is, in the usual manner, pivotally connected to thev main frame, 16, of the locomotive, by a radius bar pin, 17, located in the longitudinal central plane of the truck, at the forward extremity of the radius'bar arms.

The rear frame, 18, of the locomotive, is of the usual construction, comprising side members, which are rigidly secured to the main frame, and a transverse bumper casting, 18a, which unites the rear ends of the side members.

Mounted on each of the rear corners of truck frame, is a lower bearing set, 20, l1aving' two transverse grooves, 2l, for thereccption ot' the ears, 2Q, of heart-shaped rockers, 23. An upper bearing seat, 2li, is disposed above each oi? the rockers, and secured to the rear iframe of the locomotive. seat, Zit, is lnovided withoppositely inclined faces, which co-operate with the rocker to center the locomotive and truck.

The lower seat, 20, is provided with a pocket, 25, in which there is secured, by welding, boltine, or other suitable means, a load absorbing block 2G, having a bearing` i'ace, inclined at a le r angle than the bearinpg'iaces ot the upper seat. The upper scat, 24e, is provided' with a pocket, 27, in which is secured, by welding, bolting, or other suitable means, a load absorbing block, 28, provided with a bearing tace, oppositely inclined to, andadapted to con,- tact with, the bearing; lace ot" the block, The combined length of the two blocks, 2S and QS, when the truck is in central position, is such that the bearing' facer' of the upper seat will be held out of contact with the rocker, 23, the entire load being borne by the blocks. The rockers and seats are thus elliciently protected, when the locomotive is running' on tangent track, from the wear heretofore produced by vibration of the locomotive, and pounding` oi: the load. As the area of contact between the contacting' laces oit the blocks, is materially greater than the :t-ca oil contact presented in the centering' devices heretofore known, the blocks will function to eiliciently resist lateral vibration, and thus ensure steady riding ont the locomotive.

It will be apparentjthat, by making the angle of the bearing :tacos of the blocks, less than that of the faces of upper rocker seat, the rockers will contact with the upper seatswhen tlientruck is displaced a slig it distance from central position, byV the stresses encountered on curved track.

Finis. G and 7 illustrate the application of the load absorbing blocks, 26 and 28, to a centeringl device embodying a roller, E29, having gear'teeth, 30, at each end. ln this construction, the upper roller seat, 2l, is provided with oppositely inclined racks, 3l, which mesh with the teeth, 80, oi the roller, and the lower roller seat, 20, .is provided wit-h oppositely inclined racks, 3Q, which mesh with the teeth of the roller.

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 illustrate a modilied form of construction wherein the underside ot the lower bed, 20. is formed with a pocket, 20C, which slidingly receives the lower block,` 2G, having an inclined bearing itace. rlhe upper end of the block passes through an opening in the top wall ol' the pocket, and is re- Each upper duced to provide an outwardly directed shoulder, 2Gb, adapted to contact with the flange, 20h, at the sides et' the opening, to limit upward movement of the block. The block, 26a, is made hollow, to provide a cavity which receives the helical spring, 33. In order t0 provide for regulating the compression ot the spring, a plate, 8l, is secured -to the bottoni of the bed, by bolts, 34, having` adjustingl nuts, Sli-b, and is termed with a raised portion, 34, which lits into the bottom ot the pocket, and bears against the bottom of the spring. The upper block, 28, is rig-A idly secured to the upper bed, 18, and has an inc-lined bearing lace, adapted to contact with the bearing,` lace oi the lower block. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the pressure whichthe lower block exerts against the upper block,may be regulatedr as desired, by varying; the compression of the spring through tightening or untightcning the nuts, 84". Thus, the vibration dampeningg` ellect of the bloc is may be controlled desired, and the bearing seats and rockers or rollers, relieved, on tangent track, oi any desired portion of the load borne by them on curved track. lt will be obvious that the spring may be arranged in the upper block, or that both blocks may be yielding'ly urged intoicrictional contactby anv suitable means.

So lia-r as I am aware, it is broadly novel to combine, with a centering device, means for relieving` the mechanism which carries the load, when the locomotive is travelling on curved track, from such load, when the locomotive is travelling on tangent track.

lt is within the contemplation el'V the inp vention to provide means for suitably lubricating' the bearingfaces ot the'load absorbingn blocks, and also to torni each of the bearing` laces oi' the blocks, with any suitable in-A cline or inclines.

l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

l. ln a centering' device lier railroad vehicles, the combination of means for carrying, on curved track, a portion of the load of the vehicle; and means for carrying, on tangent track, a portion of the load borne by said first mentioned means on curved track, said last mentioned means also functioning, when carryingv the load, to resist lateral vibrations of the vehicle.

2. ln a centering` device for railroad vehicles, the combination ot means for carrying, on curved track, a portion ottl the load of the vehicle; and means for carrying, on tangent track, the load borne by said rst mentioned means on a curved track, said last mentioned means also functioning, when carrying the load, to resist lateral vibra-tion of the vehicle.

3. ln a centering device for railroad vehicles, the combination of means tor carrying, on curved track, a portion of the load et' the vehicle; and means for carrying, on tangent track, a portion of the load borne by said first mentioned means on curved track; said vlast mentioned means also functioning, when carrying the load, to frictionally resist lateral vibration of the vehicle.

4. In a centering device for railroad vehicles, the combination of means for carrying, on curved track, a portion of the load of the vehicle; and means for carrying, on tangent track, the load borne by said first mentioned means on curved track; said last mentioned means also functioning, when carrying the load, to frictionally resist lateral vibration of the vehicle.

5. In a locomotive, the combination of a truck; a centering appliance, mounted thereon, said appliance comprising means for supporting a portion of the load of the locomotive, when the truck is displaced from central position; and means, acting, when the truck is returned to central position, to remove the load from the said first mentioned means, and support it while the truck remains in central position, said second mentioned means also functioning to resist lateral vibration of the locomotive.

6. In a locomotive, the combination of a truck; a centering appliance, comprising means for supporting a portion of the load of the locomotive, when the truck is displaced from central position; and means, acting, when the truck is returned to central position, to remove the load from saidl first mentioned means, and support it while the truck remains in central position; said second mentioned means also functioning to frictionally resist lateral vibration of the locomotive.

7. In a locomotive, the combination of a truck frame; a locomotive rear frame; a centering appliance, interposed between said frames, said appliance comprising means for supporting a portion of the load of the locomotive, when the truck is displaced from central position; and means, acting, when the truck is returned to central position, to remove a portion of the load from said first mentioned means, and support it while the truck remains in central position, said second mentioned means also functioning to resist lateral vibration of the locomotive when the truck is in central position. A

8. In a locomotive, the combination of a truck frame; a locomotive rear frame; a centerino` appliance, interposed between said frames, said appliance comprising` means for supporting a portion of the load of the locomotive, when the truck is displaced from central position; and means, acting, when the truck is returned to central position, to remove the load from said first mentioned means, and support it while the truck remains in central position, said second mentioned means also functioning to resist lateral vibration of the locomotive when the truck is in central position.

9. In a locomotive, the combination of a truck frame; a locomotive rear frame; a centering appliance, interposed between said' tion of the load of the vehicle, when the ve.-`

hicle is running on curved track; and means for supporting, on tangent track, a portion of the load borne by the irst mentioned means on curved track, said last mentioned means comprising an upper anda lower member, and means for yieldingly pressing said members into frictional contact when the vehicle is running on tangent track.

1l. A centering device for railroad vehicles, comprising means for carrying a portion of the load of the vehicle, when the vehicle is running on curved track; and means for supporting, on .tangent track,l the load borne by the first mentionedy means on curved track, said last mentioned means comprising an upper and a lower member; and

means for yieldingly pressing said members into fric-tional contact when t-he vehicle is running on tangent track.

12. A centering appliance hicles, comprising means for carrying a portion of the load of the vehicle, when the vehicle is running on ,curved track; and means for supporting, on tangent track, a portion of the load borne by said first mentioned means on curved track, saidlast mentioned means comprising opposed members;

rmeans for yieldingly pressing said members into frictional contact, when the vehicle is running on tangent track; and means for "regulating the pressure exerted by said yielding means.

13. A centering appliance for railroad vehicles, comprising means for carrying a portion of the load of the vehicle', when the vehicle is running on curved track; and means for supporting, on tangent track, the load borne by said first mentioned means on curved track; said last mentioned means comprising opposed members; means for yieldingly pressing said members into frictional contact, when the vehicle is running on tangent track; and means for regulating the pressure exerted by said yielding means.

ALFRED lV. BRUCE.

for railroad ve- 

